What brings back childhood memories faster than playing in the backyard? A few years ago, as the warmer weather approached, I decided to buy a backyard trampoline for our family so we could spend time together…playing!

Like most mom’s, I did some research and became “an educated consumer.” A worried mom is a better investigator than the FBI! As I searched via Google and then Amazon for trampolines, I was overwhelmed to find more than 5,500 results.

You can probably guess which trampoline company I put my trust in since I write for them now! But even before I started writing for their blog site, JumpSport Trampolines answered all my questions and made me a believer. JumpSport Trampolines sets itself apart from the competition by delivering excellent products, backing them up with real warranties, and employing friendly customer service agents who know everything under the sun about trampolines. They also offer articles on trampoline safety and children’s exercise.

These are the key elements I found helpful when researching and what eventually led to my purchase. I hope they help you too!

Frame height and material – Having the frame height be at least 35” off the ground allows for deeper bouncing than when the frame sits lower than that. Plus, the frame should be made of “cold rolled steel” which according to different metal websites, “increases the strength and hardness” of the frame. (I did tons of research…can you tell?)

Springs – This component affects not only the day-to-day usage but also the longevity of the trampoline. The most durable and long-lasting springs are those made of zinc-plated steel and should be at least 8” long. This ensures a forgiving bounce, one that’s easy on the joints. Short springs produce a tight bounce and a harder jumping surface which could add up to injuries. I appreciated finding a trampoline that had over 80 springs around a 12’ diameter jumping mat too – a higher ratio than many trampolines on the market today.

Spring and mat connection - If you do some research, watch out for trampolines where the springs are connected to grommets in the mat. Not good! The best I found have looped straps and steel V-rings connecting the springs with the mat, creating a safe and long-lasting connection, one less-likely to tear.

Frame pad – Padding was something I didn’t think much about until I started comparing options. There is a difference, so check closely. Look for durable materials that completely cover the springs and frame; find out the type of padding used and if the material has a UV shield. Inexpensive materials deteriorate quickly.

Beyond the trampoline – I wanted a safety enclosure, adding a safety feature and allowing everyone, young and old alike, to join in the fun. As with the numerous trampoline options I found plenty of safety net options, but it seemed easier to zero in on the one that worked best for us because:

The poles were flexible, made of steel, and had shock-absorbing padding

The engineering and design prevented the net from collapsing

The overlapping entry system prevented people from falling through the opening, plus there were no clips or snaps to forget to open or close

So, I went with the JumpSport. Years later, I get to write for them. I still LOVE our trampoline! Summer family fun would not be the same without it!

The book of friendship continues to make it’s way around the United States reinforcing the importance of and power behind friendships. Here are some of the latest entries. Track the book’s journey on the map below.

#4 – Annie from Kennebunk, ME wrote:

#5 & #6 – Next, Margaret sent the book to Kris in Eagan, MN. Although Margaret’s friendship quote wasn’t recorded, Kris picked a friend, wrote her sentiment and popped the book in the mail to her friend, Sonja. Here’s a picture of Kris’ page to Sonja.

We hope this project inspires you to celebrate your friendships in new and unique ways. Email us with the ways you celebrate your friendships. We’d love to see them!

This might sound like an advertisement and to a degree, it is (after all, you’re on the JumpSport® trampoline blog!) but if you want the straight scoop about how easy it is to set up and use a JumpSport® Fitness™ Trampoline, read on.

As soon as our JumpSport® Fitness™ Trampoline arrived in the mail I asked my husband to help me assemble it. Little did I know that putting it together myself would have been a snap. But with his help, I was able to take photos that demonstrate the simplicity of it all.

Easy-to-understand directions ensured our success. After slipping the trampoline bed out of it’s packaging, my husband attached the six legs with the Allen wrench, included in the box. Minutes later – 10 to be exact – I was jumping on my new rebounder

The DVD that arrived with the trampoline was perfect for me, the beginning rebounder, and at the same time, ideal for me, the ex-marathon runner.

To be clear, I see myself as “athletic” but not an athlete, so I like to do an exercise routine to the max but I also want to be wise and balanced about my workouts. The JumpSport® Fitness™ trampoline helped me meet both criteria.

My 11-year old son was jazzed by watching me try out our new rebounder! He “jumped” right in, too, by following along with the exercises shown on the DVD. We took turns bouncing and encouraging each other (amidst a few goofs and giggles) as we tried to perfect each move.

Now, a few months later, I haven’t stopped bouncing. By working out 4 to 5 times a week in 30 – 60 minute sessions on my JumpSport® Fitness™ Trampoline, I’ve increased my stamina, strength, and flexibility.

Something I didn’t expect from JumpSport® was the variety of high-quality rebounding workout DVDs they produce. Each one allows me to follow routines lead by fitness professionals like Abbie Appel and Krista Popowych. The DVD’s offer viewers the option of working at a beginner, intermediate, or advanced level, giving them a moderate or challenging workout and address core, abs, balance, strength training, and more!

So don’t let your exercise routine get stale. Let it “out of the box” by adding a JumpSport® Fitness™ Trampoline to the mix and see what happens!

Finding a time for Erin Swick-Washkuhn to be interviewed for this blog post wasn’t simple. Choices included running alongside her as she trained for an upcoming 50k race or squeeze in a quick conversation between the physical education classes she teaches at Anderson Elementary School in St. Charles, IL. I opted for a chat after her 13-mile training run, when she had 15 minutes to spare (read “cool down”).

Needless to say, Erin is one energetic individual, and she’s motivating her students to be equally active.

In 2011, Erin was awarded Mid-West Teacher of the Year. Today, the excellence she brings to her teaching work continues to reveal itself in new and effective ways when educating students in grades 1 to 5.

When observing one of Erin’s typical classes, you would think the students were… “typical.” Not so. Among the many typical students, Erin’s classroom also happens to include children who have been diagnosed with ASD, autism spectrum disorder, and have been mainstreamed into her class. And that’s where JumpSport enters Erin’s story.

Whereas children with, “..normal sensory input can process their senses smoothly…those with autism and sensory disorders do not. This explains why some children with autism seem to walk oddly, because they cannot understand the input they receive through their bodies’ contact with the floor. Therefore, bouncing on a rebounding surface helps teach the body, over a period of time, how to read those impulses it has not been able to interpret.”

Working to make the educational experience equally worthwhile for all her students, Erin uses a JumpSport Fitness Trampoline(TM) in her gym as one way to offset the disruptions that sometimes occur among her special needs students. She noted that when her autistic students can’t engage with a group activity, she asks them to jump on her JumpSport trampoline for 4 minutes. Using the timer on an iPad, students rebound independently before returning to the group. Erin regularly sees a notable difference in children’s behavior after they bounce on the trampoline for that short, 4-minute interval.

Explaining why this happens, Erin shared that trampoline activity allows autistic students to actually “calm their bodies down” which then allows them to fully engage with the rest of the class as any mainstream student would, and that leads to a more productive class for everyone.

Beyond the physical benefits rebounding brings to Erin’s classroom, she uses her JumpSport trampoline as a teaching tool to help children with math and reading skills by having them count and say the A, B, C’s while jumping. Students consider trampolining as a reward while Erin sees it as a way to help students learn, stay active, and keep their sensory systems in check. And what do her students think about this teaching strategy? “They love it!”

In the past, Erin used another brand of trampoline in her classroom but, as she said, “It was real old, had springs, and it would squeak,” which adds to the disruption of the classroom. She appreciates how safe and quiet the JumpSport Fitness Trampoline is and that it offers more bounce than her previous trampoline; add to that the fact that it folds, and you have a trampoline that can easily be sent home with students. “Their parents love that, because it helps their autistic kids interact with mainstream kids.” And for Erin, that’s the goal.

Are you using a JumpSport Fitness Trampoline in a way that’s helping people? If so, we’d love to hear your story too. Happy Bouncing!

Below are excerpts from friends’ comments written into the book, Celebrating You. You’ll find corresponding numbers on the map below indicating where the book is traveling to and who’s “friending” each other. (See original post describing the project on March 4, 2013.

What’s that saying? “Spring is right around the corner?” Perhaps you can sense Spring’s arrival where you live, but where I am in the Midwest, it’s still pretty chilly. And with my children’s Spring vacation upon us, I’m wondering if we’ll be spending more time indoors than out. If you’re wondering the same thing and looking for ways to keep your children’s hands busy and their creative juices flowing, you may want to try this craft. Not only did my kids enjoy the craft, they also found some good ways to share their creativity by gifting, and even selling, their bobby pin creations. So get ready to turn boring bobby pins into springtime creations!

Materials you’ll need:

Plastic covering/tablecloth for work surface

Paper towel for spills and mistakes

1 – 2 pieces of copy paper folded in half to add stiffness

Bobby pins (we used wider ones than skinny traditional sized ones)

Sand paper

Nail polish (the more variety of colors the better)

Embellishments such as stickers, glitter-glue, ribbon, sparkles, etc. (Make sure they are small enough to stick on the size bobby pin you choose.)

Glue and/or hot glue gun + glue sticks

Optional: Fine-tipped paint brush for painting finer details

Optional: Nail polish remover + Q-Tips(TM) for tiny detail clean-ups

Start-to-finish time for each child to make 6 bobby pins:

Prep: 3 – 5 minutes

Crafting: 20 minutes

Dry time: 10 – 15 minutes

Clean up: 5 minutes

To start, cover your work surface in case of spills. Gather all your materials onto the table and slide three bobby pins on the folded side of the copy paper, spacing them out evenly. This gives you a way to hold the bobby pins and not smudge them while decorating.

Next, lightly sand the top side of each bobby pin. This may take some of the color off, but no worries because you’re going to make them prettier anyway! Sanding helps the nail polish to stick more securely.

Once the sanding is complete, paint the bobby pins with nail polish and set aside to let dry, 10 – 12 minutes. They may take longer to dry than when the polish is applied to fingernails, so check your work before adding embellishments. While the first set of three pins is drying, paint the second set of pins.

Once bobby pins dry, decorate them with embellishments and let set until fully dry. Your creations are finished!

Decorating and gifting ideas:

Try green polish and a four leaf clover sticker to wear on St. Patty’s Day!

Paint bobby pin one color of your child’s school colors and add a sticker made of the second school color. Give as gifts to teammates.

Use pastel colors to paint bobby pins and embellish with Easter egg stickers

Make matching sets, slip on complimentary scrapbook paper and present to girlfriends as gift

Use your imagination and send us photos of your crafting session and creations. We’d love to see them!

Friendship. I’ve been thinking a lot about friendship lately. It’s an understatement to say I’m grateful for my friends. Their support throughout the years has been an invaluable source of strength and guidance to me. And it never dies out. What a gift friendship is!

Recently, I was inspired to recognize some of my friends and our friendships when I found a delightful gift book titled, Celebrating You, published by Compendium Inc. It captures the qualities I appreciate most about some of my friends, so I decided to use it and start, what I’m calling, The Friendship Project.

Selecting a page in the book where the sentiment matched a friend’s unique personality, I wrote about her and how her friendship has embraced me through the years.

Before sending the book, I attached a note on the inside cover asking her to pick a page, write a note to one of her friends, and send it along to that person. Thus, The Friendship Project began. It’s like “paying it forward.”

I’ve asked each person who receives the book to take a picture of what they write and send it to me so the readers of this blog can follow the book’s journey as it travels (or in trampoline lingo, “bounces”) around the country, or even the globe!

I can’t wait to see where the book goes, who I meet along the way, and how this gift evolves and “gives” to each recipient. It will be fun to see friends sharing their appreciation for one another throughout the coming year. Why not try it yourself and see where your gratitude gift lands?

I have a fickle relationship with Hollywood. On one hand I’m fascinated by the glamour and excitement it offers; on the other hand, it appears the “movie star” lifestyle is insecure and imbalanced, resulting in broken lives tainted with superficiality.

Funny then, that my “take away” from the Academy Award show was one of moral substance. How refreshing it was to hear the winner of the whole sha-bang, Ben Affleck, acknowledge his Hollywood career as having taught him that he “can’t hold grudges,” and that when life knocks you down, “all that matters is that you gotta get up.” WOW! His humble comments reminded me: simple life lessons hold a significant place in our lives.

As a parent, I teach lessons like forgiveness, humility, and perseverance all day long and typically, I don’t look to the movie industry to serve as my model. But tonight, as we gather around the dinner table, I’ll have a Hollywood story to share with my kids whose bedtime on Sunday arrived before Mr. Affleck’s award. I’ll point to an individual who’s had his fair share of ups and downs in an unpredictable industry, someone who persevered to overcome the odds against him and who won, literally, as well as on a deeper level. His real win, the recognition that forgiveness and perseverance are essential in life and his determination to practice them, allowed us to see his true character…an individual of substance, rather than simply someone with the prestigious title of director or movie star. The qualities Mr. Affleck revealed will take him far beyond popularity and fame.

Sounds like a happy ending to me!

“I think that you are defined by how you rise more than how you fall.” -Ben Affleck